Curtain-support foe automobile-doors



S. L. BUCK.

CURTAIN'SUPPORT FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 25 I9!!- Patented July 15, 1919.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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CURTAIN SUPPORT FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS.

m w z T M m /6 Z I H y 4 iiiaim J m 4- m .5 I r m H w.- n W om s APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 25. 19V. 1,309,610.

HVTNEssBS M. O E

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' cunra nv sorrort'rriron auromoiarns-noorzs- UNITED ATES PATENT orrron F D E tfBvCfKgfoFi c'onrnalv nf Yomiflf i i Specification of Letters'Patent. I Patent-ed July 15 1919 i I 1; Application filed September 25, 1917.. Serial No. 193,124.

lb z l l tcli opiit may concern: r Be. it known that I, SinNnY L. BUCK, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Cortland, in the county. of Cort land, in the State of New York, have invented new .and useful Improvements in CurtainrSupports for Automobile-Doors, of whichthe following. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, isv a full, clean and'exact description.

This invention relates to certain improveinents-in curtain supports for automobile .doors-for receiving and supporting a side curtain in such manner that it may be readily opened. and closed with the door without detachment therefrom or any part Ofyth? body.

-Tl1ese doors are usually made hollow having a marginal framework of wood or other suitable material running around the upright sides and bottom thereof, to which is applied" an outer covering of metal or equivalent material, while the inner side is usually covered with leather. leaving an intervening space of substantially the thickness'of theframework ofthe door. and one of the'objeetsof my invention is to provide an extensible curtain support of sufiicient length when extended for use to project to or above the lower edge of the side quarters ofthe top; and at the same tnne capable of being compactly folded into a relatively small space between the inner and outer panels'of the door and wholly between the upright ,end rails of the door frame, where it may beconcealed when not in use.

.Another object is to provide the upper edgeof the door with a rail or plate hinged at one end and serving the double purpose of a cover for the openingthrough which the curtain support is folded and unfolded,

' and also for locking said support when adjusted foruse in supporting the curtain. IOthGI' ObjQCtS and uses relating to specific parts of. the (lBVlCe will be brought out 1n the followingdescription;

In the drawings Figure 1 is aside elevation of a portlon of anautomobile body and top showing me uppenportion of a door in section and 010 Y form of an extensible curtain support folded therein. thee'xtended position of the curtain support being also indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the door and folded curtain support. taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the inner side of an automobile body showing the manner of securing a top rail to the upper portion of the door, the folding section of said: rail being closed to conceal and protect the underlying curtain support which is folded within the space between the inner and outer panels of the door and between the end walls thereof.

Fig. is a longitudinal sectional view through the upper portion of the door, taken on line 4 l, Figs 3, and showing another form of curtain support in its folded or inclosed position, said support being shown by dotted lines as extended for use.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view-through the upper portion of the door and curtain support taken on line 55. Fig. i.

In Fig. 1, I have shown a portion of a body A of an automobile having a top -B supported by the usual bows orbraces b, said body being also provided with a door consisting of a frame and outer and inner panels -(I- and /l which may be secured in any suitable manner to the adjacent sides of the frame to form an intervening space'or chamber -D for the reception and concealment of the curtain support. presently dcscril'ied.

The. chamber D is preferably closed at the top by a rail -1 having a longitudinally extending pendent flange 2 and a movable top section 3, all of which are preferably made of sheet metal, the ends of the top of the rail and pendent flange 2 being suitably secured to the corresponding faces of the door frame -c-,

while the movable section 3 is provided 13st; i l I ii 13 2 0 the outer panel lland flange 2-, the

latter being preferably secured to the outer edges or faces of the frame y n a a The length of the movable rail section --3, is nearly equal to that of the chamber D- so as to allow sufficient space for the I folding and unfolding of the curtainsupport into and out of said chamber when the section -3 1s openedi 'w T he dooris preferably hinged at its rear vibration orrattling when folded into the' chamber --D'. 4

The'free end. in this instance theffront end. of the m-ovablerail section or lid 3- and also the adjacent edge of the rigid top portionofthe'rail are provided 'withregistering recesses $)-'opening into thechamher I) for receiving a portion of the curtain support and locking the same in' its adv justed position against lateral or forward and rearward movement, as will be hereinafter more fully descrlbed.

- The curtain support shown in Figs. land 2 comprises two bars --10 and l1- of substantiallythe same length, nearly equal to but slightly less than that of the chamber -,l),- and hinged together at one end by a pivota-l'bolt or rivet -12'--so that the section 11 may swing freely about the axis of the pivot through an arc of approxi'-' mately. 180 to form a contlnuatlon of the bar 10-. Or to befolded alongone side thereof substantially parallel therewith, and is provided at its free end with a but-ton -13--, or other-suitable fastening device to which a curtain may be attached when the supportisextended foruse.

The front end of the bar 10- is preferably curved away: from the folded 'barcent end of the flange 2-' near the loweredge and adjacentthe inner face thereof, so as to savingvertlcally about an axis parallel with thatof the pivot 12-. or m a plane substantially parallel with that of the door.. That is thesetwo bars -l0- and 11--- constitute what may be termed, an extensible or jointed'eurtain supportfoldable to a substantially horizontal position wholly within the upper portion of the chamber l)- between the lid or cover plate 3 and lower edge of the flange 2, as shown by wardly; whereupon full lines in Figs. 1 and 2,"or may be extended or unfolded to a substantially vertical positiomgas"shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which latter position it is adapted to receive and support one edge of a side curtain indicated by dotted lines in thesame figure, the other edge of the curtain at the hinged or rear edge of the door being attached in the usual manner to the supporting bows or sockets for the t0pB-. it

" The recesses 9-are madeto conform to the cross sectional contour of theportion of the bar v 10 which they are adapted to receive and are also positioned toregister with said bar when the curtain support is adjusted for use, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, and, therefore, the end walls of the recesses which are in a plane some distance above the pivotal support -14 serve to lock the curtain supportin its extended or upright posltion against forward, rearward and lateral movement's. j r I" prefer, however, to provide additional locking means for holding the curtain sup port in its extended'position, and for" this purpose .is showna locking bar ex tending lengthwise of and within the chain.- ber D' substantially the full length of the folded bars 10 and ..11.and having its rear end pivoted at to the flange a2'.and' its front end provided with a" lengthwise slot l7 terminating "in an upwardly extending branch -18 at the extreme forward end of the locking The bar -10 of the'curtain support is provided with apin or stud -,l 9. a distance from thepivot lessthan the distance between said pivot and under side of the lid when closed and projecting into the slot -1 7--. so that when the curtain support "is unfolded or adjusted for use, v'th'efpin -19 will ride'along the slot -17%- until it is registered with the branch -l8-, whereupon the weight of the free end of the bar -15-- will cause the pin .19 to enter the ofl'set-'18-. andthereby additionally lock the curtain support in itsiektend'ed position.

The front end ofthe locking bar -1;5 terminates Within the front edgc'iof the 'lid '3 and when the curtain supportis adjusted for use, this end of the bar-is brought closer to the under side of said lid'so' that in order to release the. locking bar from its holding position 1 )1.cparator v to refolding the curtain support within the upper tion of the chamber 'D. it is simply necessary to-rock the lid upwardly :tndrear- 1 25 the 'operator?"may readily insert. the finger in'the upper open side of the chamber and engageand lift the free end of the locking bar sufficiently to disengage the branch 18 from. the pin 1:50

mport a) be" locked rearwardly and downwardly, causing the pm 19 to ride rearwardly along the slot -l7 untd both bars 'il.O previously explained.

ll'heh the curtain support is thus folded, its upperbar 1llies close to the under Sitleuof the lid and also close to the "inner face o't' the flange 2 with respect to'the chamber l) the face of the bar ',l1

-adjacent' the clamping member 7 being 3 of convex cross section so as to allow the inwardly deflected portion 8 of said clamping member to ride against and across "said convcx face, thereby placing the bar u-11-- under slighti tension to cooperate wvith the clamping member -T- in frietionallyholding said bar and lid against relative vibration.

That' is. this frictional engagement be tween the bar 11 and clamping member --7- not only causes the folded curtain support 'as a whole to hold the lid in its closed position, but also enables the closed lid to hold the curtain support in its folded position, the end edges of the lid and adjacent edges of the relatively stationary portions of the top rail which they engage being preferably beveled. in upwardly diverging '35 planes to additionally support the lid against sagging, and a thesame time affording a straight, smooth finish along the upper-edge of the door. .The axis of the pivot -12- connecting f40..the bars .-.10-- and 11 is substantially w thereto and radial to the axis of the pivot a at one side thereof to limit the open- ".ing'movement of the bars to a substantially straight vertical line.

j. -.,\Vl1en.tl1e bars are in this unfolded posi- I 501M011, the stop shoulders -20- are at the real-side of the pivot, while the curtain supporting stud or, button 13- is preferably secured to the upper end of the uppermost ;bar-.-11-, sojthat the tension of the curtain, when attached to the bows or sockets at therein" of the door serves to hold the ,stop' shoulders in engagement and. to pre- ;v entfiexing..of the joint aided by the end mwalls-ofthe recesses, 9 which hold the T Qdlower section -10- in an upright position.

It is now evident that when'the curtain supportisadjusted for use and the cur Qtain attached' theretoin the manner just de- ,sci'ibeid'." the door with the curtain thereon may be opened and closed to allow tree ""thereby"allowing the curtain sup-' entrance and entry of the passengers without displacing any portion of the door curtain from its supporting means. 1

When it is desired to dispense with the curtain, it maybe read-ily detached from its supports whereupon the lid -3 may be rocked upwardly and rearwardly to its open position, the locking'member 15 released in the manner described, and the bars -l0 and -11 folded dmvnwardly within the chamber D, after which the lid may be closed, thereby concealing ,the curtain support, and at the same time giving the door its usual finished appearance with the rail across the top thereof.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the door and top rail, including the hinge section or lid 3 are substantially the same as those shown in Figs. 1 and '2, previously described, the curtaiii-supporting bars 1() and 11- being also similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that they are provided with folding branches -1()- and 1l' and that instead of providing the locking bar -15, I have provided a modified locking means consisting of folding members 21 and '2'2 hinged together at one end at '23- and having their opposite ends hinged, respectively, to

the bar 10- at and to the flange 2 at thus n'oducing what may be termed a toggle connection and toggle lock between the curtain support and flange -2.

The toggle arms -2l and -2-2 are arranged to fold one upon the other beneath the bar -10- when the latter is folded within the chamber ,D-- and also to unfold in substantially a straight line when the bars -10- are adjusted for use. the connections between the toggle arms and flange '2 permitting said arms to fold and unfold wholly within the space between the closed lid 3-- and lower edge of the flange -2, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

The adjacent ends of the toggle arms -21- and '22- are provided with stop shoulders -2(i at right angles thereto and 'adial to the pivot -23 to limit the unfolding flexing action of said arms to a substantially straight line for automatically locking the curtain support in its extended position.

This toggle lock may be readily released by hand through the open upper side of the chamber D-- when the lid 3 is open to allow the curtain support to be folded within said chamber to the posiconstruction shoxi ii'iir Fig. 7

while I h'a've'refe'rred to the door as hinged of the door, and in order that they may occupy a minimumspace when folded, they are preterablv made,Uehapem cross section to 'fit across the .top and around thesides of their respective .bars 10 and 11. i

end at.-30 tothe free endofthe bar 11 and is'also provided with a shoulder 31; cooperating with one edge of said bar to limit its openingumovement to a position at substantially-right angles thereto, in the same .direction as and Substantialtpparallel with the other arm '10 when the. curtain support is extended'for use, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. -.t,

the other end of the arnr 11- being provided with a button-13- or equivalent means for attachinga curtain thereto.

These ban'ch arms 10f and -11 when adjusted for use extend forwardly some distance beyond the free edge of the door and are preferablyiof approximately the same length, the corresponding edge of the curtain being, therefore, extended some distance beyond the arms 10 and 11, and attached to the buttons 13 It will be observed upon reference to Fig. 2 that the branchar1n10 isadapted to swing through an arc'o f substantially 90, while the branch arm ll is adapt ed to swing through an arm 'ofsubstant-ially 270, thus permittingdJOth" arms to fold over and upon the uppered'ges of their re spective arms 1O "and' l1j when the latter are folded within the chamber D.

Aside from' the modified form of locking device and branch arms -10 and l1', the construction and operation of the device shown in Figs. 3 .4' and substantially the smile as previouslydescribed for the "'1 andQ. and

at its rear end antl 'to' the curtain support as hinged 't othe door near its front end and" the lid -3 as hinged near the rear end of the door. suchdesci'iptioii on'lj applies to the construction shown. a'ntl 'it is ei 'ide'n't that the hinging of t11edoo nfray bereversed. as it is evident that the glirec tion'fof M of the door is immaterial so. longlasthecul tain support is hinged upon the freeedge ot the door and the lid hingedytofthe hinged end of the door.

It is also evident that ,c rtai n changes.

might be'inadein the constructionand oper- WVHIMY:

ber and composed of bar sections. hinged sition against rattling;

)enin g ation of the several parts of the curtain support. and lid \vlthout departing from the spirit of my invention.

What Iclaim is:

normally c ')vering the opening, a curtain.

support hinged to the doorwithin said chamtogether end to end to t'old and unfold into' and out of said chamber when the lid is open, and a locking bar hinged to the door within said chan'lber a'nd cooperating with one of the first immedbar ntolock. the curtain support in itsamfol'ded positioinsaid lid cooperating with the unfolded curtain V support for additionallv locking it againstfolding when the lid is closed.

3. In combination with a vehicle door,

having a chamber open at thetop. an,d a lid normally covering the opening. a curtain. support 'hingedto the door within said chamber and composed of bar sectionshinged .together end' to end to fold and untold, into '100 and out of said chamber when the lid is open, and a locking bar hinged to the door within. said chamber andcooperatingwith one of the first named bars to lock thecurtain sup- 3 port in its unfolded position and a clanip-. ing member on tllt ll(l fllPl'lOIitlll) engaging. one of the first" named bars \vl1en tl 1e,li d..is closed to hold said bars in their folded po-,

4. In combination with a vehicle. =door 1. 1 hinged alongone of H5 upr ght edgcsnnd provided witha lengthwise chamber-open at the to J. a lid for the o )Qllll1"',, .a curtain sn port composed of bar'sllinged together end to end to told one upon theother and;toun- ,-15 fold in a substant ally straight llne. oneof the bars being hinged to the doornear the free ed e thereofand within the chamber:

7 v 4 to swin len th-wise tl1ereo,t'.from a substantia'lly horizontal position withinthe chamber to a substantially verticalposition near the free .edge of. the dooiywhen illG' lHlqlS open, said l d ha;v1ng means for engagingthe I first named arm,and holding the ctn'tain f vertical posit on \vheirthe, helm-L20;

support in its is closed.

n 55" 3:\;' l i i 5. In {'OllibllltltlOll. .Wttll a. vehicle door hinged along one ot' lts ltlillgllhcdQgcs and provided 'Ltll a lengthwisechamber open at. the top, a lid. for the open1ng,,acurtain sup- 13 port comgaosed of hers hinged together end to end to told one upon the other and to unfold in a substantially straight line, one of the bars being hinged to the door near the free edge thereof and within the chamber to swing lengthwise thereof from a substantially horizontal position within the Chimithe first named arm and holding the curtain support in its vertical position when the lid is closed, web of said bars being provided with a. branch hinged thereto to fold. and unfold from n position substantially parallel. therewith to a position at substantially rightengles thereto. i t

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of September, 1917.

SIDNEY L. BUCK.

' Witnesses CLAYTON R. LUsK, SIDNEY FAY BUCK. 

